URBAN RESIDENTS PERCEIVED ABILITY TO UNDERTAKE VEGETABLE FARMING FOR FOOD SECURITY IN DELTA STATE

Abstract

Urban agriculture refers to the production of food crops, fruit trees, livestock, poultry, fish, bees and other locally edible and non-food items for both residential and commercial use in urban and peri-urban regions. This paper examined urban residents’ perceived ability to engage in vegetable farming as a means of enhancing food security in Delta State. The study was guided by three research objectives and hypotheses. A structured questionnaire was administered to 185 urban residents across three geographical regions: Delta North, Delta South, and Delta Central. The collected data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while a need assessment was conducted to address the third research question. A t-test statistic was utilized to determine significant differences between male and female city residents. The results revealed a strong need for urban residents to access information on climate conditions, the services of extension agents, sources for obtaining seeds, fertilizers, organic manure, and irrigation techniques for vegetable farming. Additionally, the findings highlighted the need for improvement in technical skills related to vegetable production, including seed dressing, tillage, harvesting, transplanting, weeding, pruning, and compost preparation. The study recommends that extension service agents should increase their visits to urban farms to provide guidance on modern vegetable farming techniques. It also suggests that the government should organize seminars and workshops to improve access to relevant agricultural information.